For a very long period of time, it was believed that cerebral palsy was in no way shape or form linked to genetics due to the fact that as little as 1% of cases were likely caused by genetic mutations. However, new research conducted by the Australian Collaborative Cerebral Palsy Research Group has indicted that at least 14% of cerebral palsy cases are linked to a genetic mutation--one of the biggest discoveries into cerebral palsy in 20 years. Cerebral palsy is a congenital disorder marked by impaired muscle cooordination, and other disabilities caused by damage to the brain before or after birth. Typically, 70% of the brain damage that causes cerebral palsy takes place prior to birth (mostly in the second and third pregnancy trimesters).
Although it is still not relatively known what causes the brain damage--before it was believed that the damage was caused by the child experiencing a lack of oxygen before or after birth--this new discovery may open doors to find the source of the condition and help provide better treatments to children who have the disorder, as well. Being that now 14% of cases are due to genetic mutations, cerebral palsy in origin is at least partly genetic. For that reason, changes will be administered in the approach to diagnosis, treatment, and management of the condition. Additionally, the research group has gathered a unique DNA and clinical data cerebral palsy biobank which will be used to conduct further research on the matter.
It will be very interesting to see what further research may discover about the potential causes of cerebral palsy. Being that it took 20 years to make this ground-breaking discovery, it is very uncertain how long it would take to make another.
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